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Obesity and Endometrial Cancer Precursors

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Focus on Gynecologic Malignancies

Part of the book series: Energy Balance and Cancer ((EBAC,volume 13))

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Abstract

The menstrual cycle is composed of two phases – proliferative and secretory. During the proliferative phase, estrogen stimulates the endometrium leading to growth of both the stromal and epithelial compartments. During this period of abundant mitotic activity, mutations inevitably arise within the epithelial compartment. It is typically the rise of progesterone during the secretory cycle that selects against further proliferation of these mutant cells. However, in patients with excess estrogen (e.g., obesity), these mutant populations have a selective advantage, leading to further proliferation and increased mutation rates. The result is a progression of “latent precancers” to endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) – a precursor of endometrial endometrioid-type adenocarcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1161 21st Avenue South, C-3321 MCN, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA

    Jaclyn Watkins M.D., M.S.

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  1. Jaclyn Watkins M.D., M.S.
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Correspondence to Jaclyn Watkins M.D., M.S. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Science, Health and Society, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Nathan A. Berger

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Ann H. Klopp

  3. Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Karen H. Lu

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Watkins, J. (2018). Obesity and Endometrial Cancer Precursors. In: Berger, N., Klopp, A., Lu, K. (eds) Focus on Gynecologic Malignancies. Energy Balance and Cancer, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63483-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63483-8_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63482-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63483-8

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